neohic

Circling the drain a little faster today! Thursday I wrap things up at the school and I just got word on my start date for the next job... Friday. Might as well strike while the iron is hot! :banana:

We have just about made it through another stunning year of note worthy Comanches! Did you catch all of them?... I sure hope you did! 2015 has been an awesome year of beautiful MJs from simple to not so simple. What better way to sum things up than with this fine example of that full spectrum of stock to... well... not so stock? I give you this month's MJOTM... Image Not Found YEAR/MODEL ● 1988 Jeep MJ / 1991 XJ parts ENGINE/PERFORMANCE ● 1991 Jeep 4.0 Stroked to 4.7. Stage 3 Cam. Large Valves, After market springs, 1999 intake. Fuel system improvements. Headers. full mandrel bent 2.5" exhaust. Rear mounted muffler for improved weight distribution. Through bed exit, for improved ground clearance. DRIVETRAIN ● 1991 JEEP XJ running gear. Dana 30 front. Chrysler 8.25 rear. Lockers front and rear. 4:56gears. Slip yoke eliminator, New driveshaft's both with CV joints. Rebuilt Automatic Transmission. COOLING ● HD aluminum radiator. Hi-Flow water pump. Engine Oil Cooler. Large Transmission oil cooler. Triple electric fans, removal of belt driven fan. Custom dual automatic triple redundant Thermal controller to power fans with 2 different power inputs. Audible and visual temp alert system, to alert to over temp. ELECTRICAL/IGNITION ● Relocate Battery to rear. 160AMP Alt. SUSPENSION/STEERING ● ~6" lift. SOA conversion. ACOS front coil mounts. Modified bump stops. HD Steering. Rough country long-arm. By-pass shocks at all corners. INTERIOR ● Reconditioned the whole interior.. Seat redone, carpet. LED conversion on all lights. Up-Graded audio system, all new speakers, 12" sub, 500Watts. CB radio. BRAKES ● Reworked the brake system. Converted rear to disk. Upgraded master cylinder. LIGHTING ● Replaced all lighting with LED. Rear LED lights in bumper. LED Bar above windshield. LED Bar on front bumper. Up-graded factory headlight harness with relays. EXTERIOR ● Extended fender flairs. Custom rear bumper. Off-road front bumper. WHEELS/TIRES ● BFG Mud tires. 32" x 11.5 on 15" rims MISCELLANEOUS ● Onboard air, 10,000# Winch, Hi-lift jack mounted on tailgate. Custom central breather for front diff, Transmission, and T-case. factory fuel tank skid. Bed mounted spare. Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found FULL BUILD THREAD HERE Remember That One Time?... Tell Us Your Best MJ Story ● I originally bought the jeep years ago as a work truck. As I dove it, over the years I realized I had something special. The MJ started out as a 4X2 manual. After a few years of driving, I started its rebirth as a 4X4. It is called "Master Jeep", MJ. CC is Awesome!... Why Do You Think So? ● Lots of other good MJ builds to get ideas from. The members are very helpful. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● There you have it! I know that I've said it about a ton of other trucks in the past, but I... love... this... Comanche. It's almost like looking at an eye-spy! There are so many layers of equipment and components and other such fun things to look at! It's quite obvious that everything is there for a purpose as well. Very well done, sir. Congratulations and thanks for wrapping up this year right! -Ben This post has been promoted to an article

For what it's worth, I'm skeptical if #2 has a full '97+ swap don to it. Still has the older doors and mirrors on it. As for the topic, I'd pick #1 as my truck of choice but only because it's the under dog. If the idea is $10k without getting and change back, then I have a hard time seeing myself throwing away $7500.

Black wheels are overrated and are overdone. I really dig the look of what you've got going on there. :thumbsup:

The party is in the employee lounge on Thursday at 1:00. Open door for anyone who wants to stop by for a cookie... or cake?... I'm not really sure what to expect. :dunno:

Four days left to go.

Hu... well that was kinda fun. After I handed in my walkin' papers I started honestly answering the typical hallway question from everyone of "Hey! How's it going today?!" with "Great! I just quit!" that was followed up with the same shocked look over and over. Couple people didn't even believe me. Still not completely happy with my decision, but that shop is clearly too small for the three of us who are supposed to be running it. Last day is next Thursday. After that, all I worry about it me. Thanks again, all.

Thanks, fellas. The company I'm moving over to actually has a plant just outside of Denver. No welding is done there, but it could turn into a temporary solution when the time comes. Big day today.

Just wrote my letter of resignation and I think I'm already over it. I've been working in education at a technical college for the last seven years and it's been time to move on for the last couple years now. Things have gotten sour in my department, the students just aren't what they were, and I'm tired of cleaning up after those who either don't care about what they're doing or why they're in school. I really should've done this over last summer when it would've been convenient for the rest of the world, but this really isn't about them though, is it? This is about keeping my sanity and leaving when it makes the most sense to do so for me at this point. What's next? Before I started at the college, I worked in fabrication and repair. I loved it! The problem came in that it was a small shop and I was working for the boss and the boss's son... and I was never right regardless of who I listened to. Then I changed gears to work in the same welding department that I was a student of in 2005. Fast forward to now and I'm just barely happy enough to be moving back into the working side of my industry. Working for a small shop?... never again... too many family drama. Working for the state?... never again.. too much bureaucracy. For now, I'm just a welder on a shop floor building bridges. I think I'm looking forward to it?... the jury still out. For now I think I'm more happy about just taking care of myself and giving my wife a much needed break from listening to my nightly complaints. Anyhow... I digress. You could just about check the scoreboard on how well I am with change, but lately I don't think I can get enough of it.

I'd like to add fabricator/welder for Alexandria Aircraft, Bellanca along with plenty of on the side metal work.Time to update soon... I've given up on trying to mold the next generation of welders as a teacher. Just can't do it anymore and I'm tired of being responsible for those who really don't care to be there. So I had a weld test and interview at a local shop that builds bridges and completely knocked it out of the park. Looks like I'm going back into the private sector! Not overly crazy about it, but the shop is all of a quarter mile from our house and it's just too easy to move into this job. On the plus side, the company also has a plant outside of Denver. No welding, but it could make for an easy transfer for something temporary in the future. I'm just a welder again and I'm only responsible for me... and I'm okay with that.

... and done. Not crazy about the underside of the hood, but they were really only intended to cover some ugly cuts.

Sleeved, plug, and seam welded.

Started on this little project today. The whole way along, I really wasn't crazy about how it was turning out. I kept plugging along though... you know, hoping for things to turn around. What was really bugging me about it is that the lines just weren't quite right for a buggy. Mainly the main hoop behind the seats is what wasn't really doing it for me. The lines in the rear was what fixed everything, in my eyes anyhow. Still not the typical lines of a buggy though. Maybe they are? I don't know... I think it's more go-cart or race car than buggy. Anyhow... Did you notice?... the main hoop has a seem in it. I won't tell if you don't. :oops: Besides that, I'm really diggin' the look though. Really took on a new look today. Need to pick up some more material though. That's 40' minus a few feet of mistakes.

Donkey http://comancheclub.com/topic/28245-donkeys-daily-99-mj/ http://comancheclub.com/topic/32832-truck-u-and-a-comanche/

Found another quick project today. Didn't really need it, but... meh...

Okay... so I needed something to occupy my time this morning. This thing got beat up! A chain and my floor jack straightened it up well enough. Before... After... Just like brand new again! :laughin: Then it found a home in the shed for the winter.

Met up with a great group of Jeeps in Appleton. These guys are real Appleton veterans that really know the place! I've never been around in the depths of the park like where we got into yesterday. It's a fun little park!... but the trails need to be better marked and it's usually overrun with ATVs going the wrong way down one ways and rutting up OHV only trails. The Ape kept up just fine with the group for the most part. I was the little guy for most of the day on my little 33s among real rigs... you know the type... trailered. I probably kept up longer than I should've on a few trails. No real carnage to report, but the gas tank skid was earning its keep for sure! Before winter really hits, I'd like to take it down so it doesn't get filled with road crap. That'll give me a chance to give it a good once over and straighten out what I can. The rear bumper was dragging over everything, as usual, and the sliders got a few new scrapes as well. As for the rest of the group, there was a punctured tire on one rig and ignition problems on another. Really neat Jeeps though! The black two door had just about a whole steel yard of tube and plate stacked on it, and it was riding on Toyota axles. The green Jeep was... um... maybe a YJ tub at one point? The Comanche started off life as an '87 long box. Doc is a member here but there's no build thread. The Jeep was built years ago and really hasn't changed as far as I know. This thing really performs! XJ wheel base, tractor link control arms front/rear, and nothing more than what it needs to do what it does... when it's running right, anyhow. Towards the end of the day, a couple more guys showed up to run the south end of the park. Couple XJs on 31s but that's all you really need to have a well enough time in Appleton. The sun was starting to fall behind the trees and that intermittent ignition problem in the MJ finally decided that it had enough. Ape to the rescue! Pulled him off the trail, across the park, and up onto the trailer. All in all, it was a good day on the trail.

Hmm... One last wheeling trip for the year. Pictures to follow.

Where's the personalized license plate? :hmm:

Who's in? ... so majestic.

You know what people love around here? Pictures. The more the merrier! Have a look around at some of the best how-to threads around here... go ahead, I'll wait... and what will you find? Pictures. I like to think I'm guilty of it too. Sure, you can get done with a project quickly when you're not spending half your time taking pictures, but what's the fun in that?! PEOPLE LOVE PICTURES!!! Fortunately, this month's member has one hell of a build thread. November's MJOTM goes to... Image Not Found YEAR/MODEL ● 1988 Comanche Pioneer ENGINE/PERFORMANCE ● 4.0 from 1999 XJ. Mostly normal maintenance & OEM replacement parts. New header and stainless exhaust. DRIVETRAIN ● Entire drivetrain from a 1999 XJ (AX-15, NP231, Chrysler 8.25) COOLING ● Radiator and cooling setup from the 1999 XJ donor. Thinking about trying the FFD aluminum radiator, triple electric fan and shroud setup. ELECTRICAL/IGNITION ● Stock 99' XJ SUSPENSION/STEERING ● Flipped the perches on the chrysler 8.25 and used the Hell Creek 3in lift kit (MT leafs, Springs and RC) INTERIOR ● Swapped the 99' XJ interior into the MJ (dash, seat rails, seats). POR-15. Fat Mat Sound deadener. BRAKES ● Stock 99' XJ LIGHTING ● Stock 99' XJ EXTERIOR ● Removed about 25 years of dings and dents. Prepped & painted the body/underbody. POR-15. Rescue Green. Nates offroad rear bumper. Rhinolined bed. Downey SST bed cover. WHEELS/TIRES ● Just finished restoring the original wheels. Hope to have tires mounted soon. Currently running 31" Michelin LTX M/S on 5 spoke XJ wheels. MISCELLANEOUS ● New headliner (Steve, SMS headliner). Hurst AX-15 short shifter. Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found FULL BUILD THREAD HERE Remember That One Time?... Tell Us Your Best MJ Story ● Countless random compliments at every stop sign, red light or gas station. CC is Awesome!... Why Do You Think So? ● Backdraft, Rymanrph, Shelbyluvv, 87Warrior, and countless others who have done great write-ups made this an easy swap. Especially this thread http://comancheclub....97-swap-how-to/ ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Wow!... just wow! Admittedly, I'm not a huge fan of a '97+ swap, but this one is perfect! All the interior upgrades and amenities without the generational exterior change. Bravo, sir! Beautiful truck and congratulations! Enjoy your month. -Ben This post has been promoted to an article

:laughin: Surprisingly, no!

Off to a new home.